Jaipur: Gem of India

Book excerpt: Jaipur, the glorious Pink City of India, sets many a hearts aflutter with visions of grandeur, valour, romance and beauty. This heritage city’s inherent historic charm has always been a major source of attraction. Travellers, poets and philosophers have lavished praise on it, and perhaps no other place is imbued with the richness of ritual and ceremony across the country, as Jaipur is. Among its numerous architectural wonders, the city’s Jantar Mantar (observatory) and Amber Fort have been included in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s list of world heritage sites. The book elaborates on the lesser known aspects that have contributed to its coveted status of a heritage city. It also offers a glimpse into the lives of people, who have made a difference to this city through their contributions and have aided in making this wonderful city what it is today. The city is an integral element on the itinerary of any global traveller and a worthy venue for a ‘destination wedding’ in one of its numerous forts or palaces. Also in focus is Jaipur’s everevolving image as a new economic hub and a well-equipped modern metropolis. In this well-researched and meticulously documented book, the author presents a comprehensive picture of the city, bringing to light many hitherto unexplored facts that will interest those with a penchant for urban histories, their origin and their evolution. The book has been abundantly illustrated with more than 500 rare, coloured photographs and paintings, and 154 unseen black and white photographs and illustrations, to capture the imagination of a discerning reader.